Welcome to the weekend nature walk. We had breakfast around 9am at the cafe this morning and walked a few miles around the Chicago Botanic Gardens. There were chipmunks darting all over, eating fallen nuts, apples, and seeds. I like to think they were our guides.

Morning dew, or perhaps a gardeners AM tending, had the plants shimmering with droplets of water.

I do wonder sometimes if everyone sees the same colors. I don’t think so, I think we all see colors a bit differently.

A fresh head of lettuce.

A hanging garden of kale and peppers. Wonderful earthy tones!

Pretty pink fairy-roses. I’m too lazy to rotate the photo.

Extremely large spiders shielded the garden from insects.

Japanese maple, of course

Ah yes HYBHS18538 my favorite plant (no I’m not rotating the photo).

Crystal energy leyline lodestone warp point please attune to the aether to save your progress

Zen

Not a single cloud in the sky.

There’s actually a bee inside if you look closely.

Full resolution post image

The fountains were off, giving the lily pad ponds the appearance of black glass.

I always think I’ve taken a lot of photos. I actually don’t really. There’s so many photographers out in the gardens every day, with extremely nice cameras, tripods… a lot of them are in their 60s or 70s. They wear sunhats and shades and live in the moment, then capture it.

Okay so this is the special “train” area… member only access or you have to pay extra. You’re either 1-2 years old or you’re 65 or older (or you’re me). Everyone took Tylenol before entering, ha ha.

Cute.

This time, I decided to treat the fish to some cereal. Just a few bits of cereal, not a lot of cereal. Don’t tell anyone!!! Ok!!!

A SECOND PLUPYUMYUM HAS ENTERED THE LAKE